What's the biggest Metezler ME 880 tire that will fit on a stock rear wheel for an '01 883? 130? 140? 150?

A 150 will fit on the rim, if it will fit on your bike is the question. I'm pretty sure the widest you can go is 140.

rok, I just installed a 140 Avon on my rear and the belt clearance is minimal about 5/16". I wouldn't go any bigger on a stock swingarm and pulley setup.

Scott

According to the v-twinguide on theirUS website, 140 istheir recommended Stage 1 upgrade.

140 it is! you guys rock.
thanks for the 411.

140 is the biggest with a belt

I think uquackmeup just put a 150/80 on his 95 sporty. He also wrote a great howto on it. You should check out the thread before you go ordering. Here is the link. I have A 140 kenda challenger on mine but it is wider than a 150 avon. It has been done so there is no guessing here. http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=15361

My friend put a ME880 140 on his 2001 1200C last spring. The day after he mounted it we headed out on a 3 day trip. We got halfway to Yellowstone and noticed a "blackwall" on his new tire that wasn't there before. The tire was rubbing the lower chain guard. We got to West Yellowstone and did some minor surgery... removed the lower chain guard. The clearance between his tire and drive belt is about 1 pubic hair.

Bottom line: you can fit a Metzeler 140, but might have to do some minor tweaking.

It is all about spacing and the right spacers. You have to space to do it right. read the how to boys and girls and the force will be with you too.

What would the advantage/disadvantage be of the 140vs130?

140 = more surface for breaking
130 = more nimble cornering?

Are those the correct trade-offs are am I missing something?
Was just about to order a replacement (seemed to make it past 10k miles this time)

What would the advantage/disadvantage be of the 140vs130?

140 = more surface for breaking
130 = more nimble cornering?

Are those the correct trade-offs are am I missing something?
Was just about to order a replacement (seemed to make it past 10k miles this time)

The advantage would be that you can tell your friends that you are running a 140. It's all about the 'coolness' factor. The 10mm difference in cross section width is not enough to make a noticable difference in handling or braking. It only makes a noticable difference in rubbing (on parts).

I wanted to chime in and say that i managed to squeeze a 150mm on the rear of my 2000 1200c. I had to shim it up to keep the belt off the sidewall, but it looks sweet as hell and rides a little softer than before.

It's all in what ya want. Wider isn't necessarily better. Even the 130 should be an improvement over the stock Dunlop!
Ride to Live!

I wanted to chime in and say that i managed to squeeze a 150mm on the rear of my 2000 1200c. I had to shim it up to keep the belt off the sidewall, but it looks sweet as hell and rides a little softer than before.

Sounds interesting.

Can you expound on your shimming methods?

If you moved the wheel to the left to clear the belt, how did you keep the rear pulley lined up with the front sprocket, and how did you keep the tire from rubbing the fender strut bolts on the inside of the fender?

Trout. go up to the link I put here and read it. It is there so you can read exactly how to do it. It starts with a 1/4 inch pulley offset and spreading the swingarm etc.. If you read it you will know all you need to about shimming and fitting a 150 which is about 6 inches wide and fills the fender nicely. You give me the impression that you don't believe it can be done without creating all the problems you mentioned. For every problem you mention there is a creative solution if you want it.

I was told 10 years ago a 150 would not go and I have had a wider tire in ever since.

You give me the impression that you don't believe it can be done without creating all the problems you mentioned.

I believe!

But I still don't believe it can be done without tradeoffs. In a stock configuration, the rear tire is in line with the front tire, and the rear pulley is in line with the front pulley. If you move the rear pulley away from the rear wheel by using a spacer, then when you are done you have to give up either wheel alignment or pulley alignment. It may not be by much, but one or the other is out of line.

I liked the scissor jack swingarm spreader. Very high tech.

I've updated the "How-To" page with a few more photos and info. I hope this helps answer some of the questions.
http://www.geocities.com/when_pigs_fly_mc/880.html

Trout suppose the belt is out of line, What would the consequence be? Mine has 20000 on it now and still looks good. Maybe we should go fishing and talk about it. Fly fishing would suit me fine.
I would like to say one more thing about this subject. Why would you care if a hydraulic press or a scissor jack was used to do the pry job. Quite clever if you ask me. I have been useing my prybar and a 2 foot crescent wrench with my feet for years. I will scissor jack mine this year too. It is simply brillllllllllliant. There are a lot of mods that would never be done if we limited ourselves to the known. Enough said. Now lets go fishing.

Trout suppose the belt is out of line, What would the consequence be? Mine has 20000 on it now and still looks good. Maybe we should go fishing and talk about it. Fly fishing would suit me fine.
I would like to say one more thing about this subject. Why would you care if a hydraulic press or a scissor jack was used to do the pry job. Quite clever if you ask me. I have been useing my prybar and a 2 foot crescent wrench with my feet for years. I will scissor jack mine this year too. It is simply brillllllllllliant. There are a lot of mods that would never be done if we limited ourselves to the known. Enough said. Now lets go fishing.

Fly-Fishing would be great. I just spent a day on the Owyhee (far-eastern Oregon) catching huge browns. What's your pleasure? I could take you to your choice of primo-waters... Silver Creek, Henry's Fork, Big Lost River, Middle Fork of the Salmon, Owyhee River... you name it. Now you've got me all excited to cast a line.

My only thought and concern on the scissor jack idea (or any jack for that matter), is that the stretch is somewhat uncontrolled. You'll never know if the left channel was bent more than the right channel, and vice-versa. I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and would not be happy with the guesswork involved in that type of modification. Same for the belt alignment... it would just bug me knowing that it was out of alignment, even if just slightly. It's all a matter of preference, tradeoff, compromise, etc. I would just not be willing to trade a homemade swingarm stretch for a 150 tire. Obviously for other folks, it's a good trade, and that's fine.

What's your preference... Browns, Bulls, Rainbows, or Cutts?

Have you seen a cutbow yet, cross between a rainbow and cutthroat. They have a crossbreed here in the northfork and white river. I prefer the really large browns here. Record in the Little red river is a 40 lb brown. It looks like a salmon. The browns here are huge also. I am sure you could show me a thing or two about catching the fish up there. Wet or dry flys. Down here they like red san juan worms and sow bugs. I prefer dry flys because I am not quite there yet in the catching part and I like seeing the action. Strike indicators are still a bit of a mystery eventhough I have had some success.

I suppose redneck engeneering is not for everyone. I happen to lean to the practical side of perfection meaning if I want it that way I will figure out a way. I pried mine apart and put the spacers in then released it again. much harder then the jack. I am also still battling the bolts cutting into the tire. I liked the carriage mold idea as well. I am just going to have to adapt it to the more complicated struts on the 1993.